Cup rack



L. MASLOW Feb 28, 1967 CUP RACK 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 19, 1964 "ifHai-.3 f4

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Feb. 28, 1967 L. MAsLow 3,306,463

CUP RACK Filed Feb. 19, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. MASLOW FehZS', 1967 CUPRACK 3 sheetsg-Sheet' 5 Filed Feb. 19, 1964 INVENTOR. 0d/5 M45! h/United States Patent O The present invention relates generally to racksor trays and in particular to cup racks o-r trays of the type employedfor holding a group of cups for use in connection with Washing, rinsingand drying machines or for storage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cup storage rackor tray construction adapted for use in standard washing, rinsing anddrying machines, the rack being preferably molded as a single unit froma suitable plastic material.

It is another object of the present inventio-n to provide means wherebythe cup rack or tray may be utilized in different types of washing,rinsing and drying machines.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of thepresent invention to provide a cup tray construction of the describedtype wherein the tray lis provided with means for use in guiding .orconveying the tray through the washing, rinsing and drying machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a relativelylight-weight cup tray construction formed completely of a molded plasticwherein the tray assembly may be stacked vertically for greaterportability and more compact storage.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide asubstantially plastic tray construction which is of simple construction,inexpensive to manufacture and in which the articles to be cleaned arepositioned for maximum washing, rinsing and drying operation.

In accordance with the foregoingobject, it is another object of thepresent invention to provide the tray with means for directing thewashing water to provide maximum efiiciency in washing and rinsing.

Other and furthe-r objects and advantages of the present invention willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration ofthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplatedfor carrying out the invention;

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a rack or tray pursuant to the presentinvention;

FIG-URE 2 is an end view of the rack taken in the direction `of thearrow 2 in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the rack taken in the direction of the arrow3 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken inthe direction of the arrows 4 4 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken ton the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken onthe line 64-6 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the rack on an enlargedscale;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 8-8of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE` 9 is a sectionalv view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 99 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURES 10 and 1l are perspective views of two types of elements used inconnection with the racks for moving or conveying the latter through thewashing, rinsing and drying machines;

FIGURE l2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the rackshowing the latter provided with cups mounted therein, the view being onan enlarged scale;

Patented Feb. 28, 1967 FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary view taken on the line13-13 of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 14-14 of FIGURE 12;and

FIGURE l5 is a fragmentary end view taken in the direction of the arrow2 in FIGURE 1 on an enlarged scale with a portion broken away toillustrate the mounting of the element shown in FIGURE 1l in the rack.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown a rack 10pursuant to the present invention. The rack or tray 10 is of unitaryconstruction being preferably formed as by molding from a suitableplastic material to provide a relatively light yet sturdy rack whichwill have a relatively long life and will dry relatively fast. As hereshown, the rack 10 is of rectangular conformation and is provided withthe opposing end walls 20 and 22 and the yopposing side walls 24 and 26.As best shown in FIG- URES 4 and 6, each of said walls is provided witha plurality of laterally spaced shoulders or steps 28 so as to deiine anupper wall portion 30 and a lower wall portion 32 wherein the lower wallportion is offset inwardly of the outer wall portion. The walls areprovided also with laterally spaced apertures 34 which serve both todecrease the weight of the rack 10 and also -to provide openings for thefree flow of water through the walls. A continuous channel 36 is denedat the bottom of all four walls 20, 22, 24 and 26 of the rack. The roofof the channel 36 is defined by a continuous ledge 38 which extendsalong the inner surface of all four walls at the bottom end thereof asbest shown in FIGURE 5. A plurality of laterally spaced apertures 40 aredefined in the ledge 38 so that water may drain therethrough and also todecrease the weight of the rack. The rack is provided also with the fourcorner projections of extensions 42, 44, 46 and 48 which extend upwardlyfrom the four bounding walls thereof as best seen in FIGURES l, 2, 3, 4and 6. Provision is also made on the end wall 24 at the inner surfacethereof for the pair of projections or extensions 50 and 52 which extendupwardly above the upper marginal edge of said wall between the cornerpieces or extensions 42 and 44. Provision is similarly made at the innersurface of lthe opposing wall 26 for the projections or extensions 54and 56 which extend upwardly above the upper marginal edge of the wall26 between the corner extensions 46 and 48. It will be understood thatthe corner extensions 42, 44, 46, 48, the opposing Wall projections 50,52, 54 and 56 and the wall shoulders 28 in combination with theoutwardly offset wall portions 30 and the inwardly offset wall portions32 permit for the stacking of the racks or trays one upon the other aswill be readily apparent, the projections and corner pieces serving tospace the stacked trays one above the other.

The tray 10 is provided with an open gridwork generally indicated by thereference numeral 58 which extends between the four walls thereof. Theopen gridwork is defined by the transverse parallel partitions 60 whichextend between the opposing walls 24 and 26. As best seen in FIGURE 4,each transverse partition or strut 60 is provided with an integralupwardly extending portion 62 which functions as a water deilector.

Superimposed on the open gridwork 58, and integral therewith, provisionis made for a cellular network generally indicated by the referencenumeral 64. As here shown, the cellular network 64 is constituted byinterior octagonal shaped cells 66 and by cells which extend along thefour bounding walls of the rack. The cells along the four bounding wallsinclude substantially rectangular cells such as at 68, a pair ofopposing tive Wall corner cells 70 and substantially six wall cells 72.It will be noted that each cell overlies a pair of the transversepartitions or struts 60 and that the upwardly extending deilectors 62 ofthe struts 60 extend upwardly into each of the cells except for therectangular cells 68 so that each of the cells except for the latterrectangular cells is provided with two water deilectors 62. The cellsalong the end wall 20* are provided with the cell walls 74 which ex-.end transversely of the struts 60 and the cells along the end wall 22are provided also with cell walls 74 which extend transversely of thestruts 60. As best shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the cross pieces 60 extendthrough the cell walls 74 which have water deflector portions 76 betweenthe companion struts 60 for the associated cell. Similarly, in theoctagonal cells 66, the opposing linear walls 78--78 are also providedwith depending deector portions 80 which extend between the pairedltransverse struts 60 as best shown for example in FIGURES 13 and 14.Consequently, it will be apparent that each of the substantiallyoctagonal cells 66 is provided with four water deflectors, two of thedeflectors extending downwardly from and in the plane of opposing walls78 and two deflectors extending upwardly from the transverse struts 60within the cells and extending transversely of and upwardly from thedeflectors 80. The substantially live walled corner cells 70 are alsoprovided with the pair of upwardly extending deiiectors 62 as well aswith a downwardly extending deflector 80 on the cell wall 74. Thesubstantially six walled cells 72 are also provided with the pair ofupwardly extending deflectors 62-62 as well as with a single downwardlyextending deector 80 on the transverse wall 78 thereof which is commonto the adjacent octagonal cell 66 as will be apparent from FIGURE 1. Itwill be also noted that the octagonal cells 66, the substantially fivewall corner cells 70 and the substantially six wall cells 72 areprovided with locating recesses 82 which are defined at the upper edgesof the nonlinear walls 84 thereof as best shown in FIGURES 12, 13 and14.

The locating recesses 82, permit for the proper disposition of cups 86and 88 within the respective cells for the washing, rinsing and dryingoperation. As best shown in FIGURES 13 and 14, the cups 86 and 88 differin shape from each other. However, it will be noted that the cells areadapted to receive cups of both shapes and cups of various other shapes.In this connection, it will be apparent that in order to properlydispose or locate a cup within the respective cell, the cup is insertedtherein and the fingerpiece or handle 90 thereof is positioned so thatit will be received or rest within a recess 82 of the associated cell.This is accomplished by first inverting the cup so that it will facedownwardly into the rack and be disposed as shown in FIGURES l2, 13 and14. In said position, the cup in addition to resting so that the handlethereof is disposed within a -recess 82 also engages the opposing wall84 of the cell and rests on the underlying transverse struts or barriers60 which extend through the associated cell. When so placed within thecell, it will be noted that the cup is tilted or disposed at an anglewithin the cell and that the open side or mouth of the cup is similarlydisposed at an angle within the ycell as best shown in FIGURES 13 andv14. As a result, cleaning and rinsing Water which is forced upwardlythrough the open gridwork 58 enters the interior of the cup as indicatedby the arrows 92 in FIGURE 13. The water will then wash and rinse thecup as indicated by the arrow 94 and drain from the cup through the opengrid as indicated by the arrow 96. It will also be understood that thecups positioned as shown in FIGURES 12, 13 and 14 may each be rotated by180 from the respective position thereof shown in said figures so that'the cup handle 90 will rest in the opposing recess 82 and the sameresults will occur, the angle at which the cup is disposed also beingrotated by 180 from that shown in said figures. With the various cupsdisposed in the cells, as shown in FIGURE 12, it will be apparent thatthe cups do not interfere with ea-ch other so that no cup prevents theproper positioning of the adjacent cup and all of the cups may then besimilarly subjected to the washing, rinsing and drying action of theautomatic washing machines into which the rack containing the cups maybe placed.

Pursuant to a highly novel feature of the present invention, provisionis made to accommodate the racks 10 for utilization in various differenttypes of washing machines and more specifically in order to accommodatethe racks to the specific conveyor mechanism of the specific machines sothat the 4racks may be moved into and out of the machine as :requiredduring the dish washing operation. In this connection, provision is madefor the conveyor engaging elements 98 and 100 as :shown in FIGURES 10and 11 respectively. Referring now to conveyor engaging element 98 indetail, it will be noted that said element is of substantially rightangular conformation having the unitary arms 102 and 104. Arm 104terminates in a barbed tooth 106 which extends at right angles to theplane of the element 98. Arm 102 is provided with three laterallyextending pointed lingers 108 which are in the plane of said arm 102,The element 98, which is preferably formed of a suitable metal isintended to be inserted from the underside of the rack 10 at a cornerthereof. More specifically and as best shown in FIG- URE 7, the metallicelement 98 is shown inserted in a corner ofthe rack within the channel36 which is formed at the bottom of the rack. The element 98 may bereadily inserted into the channel 36 by first engaging the barbed tooth106 in the channel 36 at one side of a corner on the rack and then withthe barbed tooth so engaged rotating the opposing arm 102 of the elementin a direction toward the rack and urging said arm 102 into the channel36 at the other side of the corner 110 so that the sharpened spurs 108dig into the material of which the rack is formed to be fully engagedwithin the channel 36 as best shown in FIGURE 8. It will be apparentthat with the barbed tooth 106 engaged in the material of the rack atone side of corner 110, as best shown in FIGURE 9 and with the sharpenedspurs 108 engaged in the material of the rack at the other side of thecorner 110, as best shown in FIGURE 8, the element 98 is securely seatedwithin the channel 36 at the rack corner 110 and inwardlyof the outeredges 112 of the channel. As best shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the rackis provided with cutouts 114 adjacent the four corners thereof. Thesecutouts serve to expose the element 98. Consequently, with the element98 so exposed, it can be conveniently used for engagement by theconveyor mechanism of an associated dishwashing machine whereby whensuch elements are engaged at the corners of the rack, the rack may bereadily moved into and out of the associated washing machine.

The preferably metallic conveyor engaging element also serves the samefunction or purpose as the conveyor element 98. However, the conveyorengaging element 100 is intended to be used along the various walls ofthe rack and not at the corners thereof. More specifically, it will benoted that the conveyor engaging element 100 is also a unita-ry memberas is the elemnet 98. The element 100 is provided with a main or bodyportion 120 which terminates at each of its opposite ends with aninwardly or downwardly directed barbed tooth 116. In order to engage theelement 100 in the rack, it is only necessary to align the element 100with the channel 36 inwardly of a corner thereof and then force theelement 100 into the channel so that the barbed teeth 116 engage intothe material of which the rack is formed as shown in FIGURE l5, the bodyof the element 100 being disposed inwardly of the outer marginal edges112 of the channel. In this connection, it will be noted that the rackis provided also with cutouts 118 substantially centrally of the wallsthereof at the bottom edges of said walls, as best shown in FIGURES 2, 4and 15. When the elements 100 are disposed in the chanels so that theywill be exposed at said cutouts as best shown in FIGURE 15, it will bereadily apparent that said elements 100 will be accessible forengagement by the conveyor mechanism of the associated washing machine.

As previously indicated, and as shown in FIGURE 13, water sprayedupwardly into the cup, as indicated by arrows 92, washes the interior ofthe cup. An extra strong spray of water would tend to rotate the cupcounterclockwise, viewing said figure. However, if this should occur,the lip 91 of the cup, opposite the handle 90, would engage grid 60 andits raised portion 62, to prevent the cup from turning over.

Each cup is provided with a conventional outer surface bottom recess 93.When a cup is inverted, wash -water would normally tend to collect insaid recess thereof. However, it will `be apparent that the retention ofwater in such bottom -recesses is prevented by the rack of the presentinvention due to the fact that the normal tilted portion of the cups, asshown in FlGURES 12, 13 and 14 would cause any such water to run oficfrom the recess.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that there is describedand illustrated herein a highly novel dishwashing rack which is wellable to accomplish the objects of the present invention. It will beunderstood that various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing however from the inventive concept thereof as setforth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dishwasher rack comprising a substantially rectangular opengridwork having four bounding walls and defined by a plurality oflaterally spaced parallel struts extending between an opposing pair ofsaid walls and parallel to the other pair of said walls, and meansdefining a plurality of open cells superimposed on said struts so thatthe latter underlie said cells and support articles placed within saidcells, and conveyor engaging elements provided on said bounding walls,said walls having a continuous open slot defined at the bottom edgesthereof, and said conveyor engaging elements being engaged in said slotand accessible through said walls, said conveyor engaging elements beingformed of a metallic material.

2. A dishwasher rack comprising a substantially rectangular opengridwork having four ybounding walls and defined by a plurality oflaterally spaced parallel struts extending between an opposing pair ofsaid walls and parallel to the other pair of said walls, and means dening a plurality of open cells superimposed on said struts so that thelatter underlie said cells and support articles placed within saidcells, and conveyor engaging elements provided on said bounding walls,said walls having a continuous open slot defined at the bottom edgesthereof, and said conveyor engaging elements being engaged in said slotand accessible through said walls, said conveyor engaging elements beingprovided at the corners of said rack, said conveyor engaging elementsformed of a metallic material. n

3. A dishwasher rack comprising a substantially rectangular opengridwork having four bounding walls and defined by a plurality oflaterally spaced parallel struts extending between an opposing pair ofsaid walls and parallel to the other pair of said walls, and meansdefining a plurality of open cells superimposed on said struts so thatthe latter underlie said cells and support articles placed within saidcells, and conveyor engaging elements provided on said bounding walls,said walls having a continuous open slot defined at the bottom edgesthereof, and said conveyor engaging elements being engaged in said slotand accessible through said walls, said conveyor engaging elements beingprovided `between the corners of said walls, said conveyor engagingelements being formed of a metallic material.

4. A dishwasher rack comprising a substantially rectangular opengridwork having four bounding walls and defined by a plurality oflaterally spaced parallel struts extending between an opposing pair ofsaid walls and parallel to the other pair of said walls, and meansclefining a plurality of open cells superimposed on said struts so thatthe latter underlie said cells and support articles placed within saidcells, and water deilectors for said cells, said water deiiectors beingraised portions of said struts, said raised portions constitutinganti-tilt locking elements to prevent the overturn of tilted invertedcups by water sprayed upwardly through said struts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS l1,461,473 7/1923LBreer 134-182 2,240,572 5/1941 Poxon 134-182 2,775,360 12/1956 Phillips220-97 X 2,907,470 10/1959 Abresch 211-126 2,982,420 5/1961 Wannemacher211-74 2,997,155 8/1961 Muckler et al. 211`41 X 3,009,579 11/1961Ettlinger 211-71 3,136,443 6/1964 Muckler 211-126 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY,Primary Examiner. FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner.

R. P. SEITTER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DISHWASHER RACK COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR OPENGRIDWORK HAVING FOUR BOUNDING WALLS AND DEFINED BY A PLURALITY OFLATERALLY SPACED PARALLEL STRUTS EXTENDING BETWEEN AN OPPOSING PAIR OFSAID WALLS AND PARALLEL TO THE OTHER PAIR OF SAID WALLS, AND MEANSDEFINING A PLURALITY OF OPEN CELLS SUPERIMPOSED ON SAID STRUTS SO THATTHE LATTER UNDERLIE SAID CELLS AND SUPPORT ARTICLES PLACED WITHIN SAIDCELLS, AND CONVEYOR ENGAGING ELEMENTS PROVIDED ON SAID BOUNDING WALLS,SAID WALLS HAVING A CONTINUOUS OPEN SLOT DEFINED AT THE BOTTOM EDGESTHEREOF, AND SAID CONVEYOR ENGAGING ELEMENTS BEING ENGAGED IN SAID SLOTAND ACCESSIBLE THROUGH SAID WALLS, SAID CONVEYOR ENGAGING ELEMENTS BEINGFORMED OF A METALLIC MATERIAL.